Infertility Fact Sheet

What is fertility?

Becoming pregnant involves many steps. The steps must work just right for a woman to get pregnant.

About 8 out of 10 couples will get pregnant within 12 months of trying.

What is infertility?

Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after having regular intercourse (sex) without birth control for one year (or after six months if a woman is 35 or older).

Infertility is common. About one of every 10 women in the United States younger than 45 years old has infertility.

Primary infertility is when a couple has never been able to have their own biological child.

Secondary infertility happens when a couple previously had a child, but can't get pregnant again.

Infertility can be caused by problems in the woman, the man, or both

.

How is infertility treated?

Infertility is treated in many ways.

Many cases are treated with drugs or surgery.

The treatment depends on the cause of infertility.

A couple should see a doctor if they have not been able to get pregnant after 12 months of having sex regularly without birth control. If the woman is age 35 or older, they should see a doctor after 6 months of trying to get pregnant.